District Attorney David Soares has dismissed two prosecutors hired in recent years, including the son-in-law of state Assemblyman John McEneny, the Times Union has learned.

The two prosecutors, Assistant District Attorneys John Spencer and Kelly Drago, were let go on Friday, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

Soares’ office did not acknowledge the dismissals when contacted.

“We will not be commenting on personnel matters,” Soares spokeswoman Heather Orth said in a statement Tuesday evening.

Spencer, 37, a graduate of Pace University School of Law who prosecuted financial crimes, is the son of former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer, who ran against former U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2006. He is married to Rachel McEneny, a former spokeswoman for Soares who is now an aide to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillbrand.

His wife’s father, a longtime assemblyman from Albany, was an early Soares supporter when the future district attorney ran for office in 2004.

Drago, 28, an Albany Law School graduate hired in July 2008, had worked in the office’s Special Victims Unit, which handles sex crimes.

Drago acknowledged the dismissal when reached Tuesday but declined further comment.

When asked if the dismissals were related to budgetary reasons, Orth repeated the office would not comment on personnel matters.

Soares has commented at least twice in the past when prosecutors were actually fired from his office. And as recently as May, when former Chief Assistant District Attorney Mark Harris retired, Soares remarked that Harris had been contemplating the move for some time.

13 Responses

So why should I care about this?? I think all relatives in the New York State Offical Patronage system should be fired.. Any Politican having a relative working in Government should be disqualified form holding office or having all his relatives fired if he keeps office..
That includes by married or mistress or hooker.

And just because the family name is well known means squat to me. If they aren’t doing their job, then can them..Plain and simple. If they not up to snuff, no matter who they are related or married too, out the door with them…Why waste the Taxpayers money on useless people or people who are protected even if they can’t do the job….It is about time to clean up the entire State from Top to bottom….

In the November 5th County Legislative Budget meeting, Mr. Soares’ presentation included the elimination of 3 ADA positions among several other slashings. The understanding throughout the budget cuts, as I understood it, was that it would be last in, first out. I’m not sure how Mr. Soares budget was finalized but there were many positions restored. (I’m sure I wrote about the final product, I’m just not up to looking for it.)

If Mr. Spencer was one of the last “in” and was not cut, I’m sure there would be some scrutiny of the office. These are hard times and, since the writing was on the wall during the budget discussion, I don’t think there’s any reason to be suspicious to these cuts. (I hope I’m not proven wrong!)

Below is a link to the initial proposed budget cuts for the District Attorney’s office. All of the proposed cuts and the finalized cuts are included in the blog starting November 5th.

@eddie – you really might be onto something here, one politician per family sounds very feasible, not to mention fair and logical. now we just need to figure out where to draw the line and define relative… hmmm… i’m thinking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cousins; obviously siblings; step siblings; obviously children; step children. that should be a good start. why stop at relatives though? after reading your post, the idea of acquaintances holding public office simultaneously is making me nervous…super nervous. if it was up to me (and i imagine you would agree) i say that old class mates, neighbors (let’s define a neighbor as anyone who lives within 2 blocks of you for over 6 months), and friends (let’s define friends as someone you’ve known for over 2 months and ‘like’) should fall under your new policy.
eddie, i think we are really onto something good here regarding nepotism and government in general. keep up the good work.

A friend of mine alerted me to these blogs. I am aware there are two, so I am going to post the same comment on both. When Mr. Gavin initially contacted me, I declined to comment, because I did not realize this story was newsworthy. I figured with the state of Albany County’s finances, there were going to be cuts from every department. I am still really unsure why this story has made the news. Last Friday, I was told by Mr. Soares that I had to be let go. The reason I was given was budget cuts and my relative inexperience as compared to the more seasoned ADA’s. It was made clear that it was not because I had done anything wrong. I truly appreciate the kind words and support I have received from those of you who have posted here, as well as, my friends and colleagues who have privately reached out to me. I look back on my time there as a positive experience. For the large majority, the ADA’s and support staff at the Albany County DA’s office are dedicated, professional, and caring people. I can say that for every member of the Special Victims Unit, who are all wonderful people, and to whom I know these cuts are most negatively affecting. I will truly miss them. I have a tremendous amount of professional and personal respect for Chief David Rossi and SVU Unit Chief Shannon Sarfoh, to whom I reported most directly. I am sad to go, but feel fortunate to have worked with such great people, grown professionally, and to have gained felony experience so early in my career.

CommenterOnTheSickCommenter –> hopefully you are right. At least Kline was qualified for the position. Soare’s has never even prosecuted a felony case, and he is the DA. I know nothing about either prosecutor who was dismissed, but if either one has handled even 1 felony criminal case, they are more qualified than the current DA.